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Ramirez, Viciedo attempt to adjust in-season

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Ramirez's solo blast 0:46

4/3/13: Alexei Ramirez hits his first home run of the season, and the fourth White Sox dinger of the game, to stretch the lead to 5-2

By Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

WASHINGTON -- Alexei Ramirez moved back in the batter's box in order see the ball a little bit longer with each at-bat, and Dayan Viciedo added a front leg kick as a timing mechanism to help his swing during Spring Training. Both of those moves became works in progress once the regular season began.

"What we are trying to do is bring awareness," said White Sox hitting coach Jeff Manto in regard to his input on those changes. "It's not like we are going to pound our fists and say, 'You have to do it this way.' We are trying to bring awareness and put guys in the best position."

Manto said that Ramirez is making adjustments as he goes, and that he feels more comfortable closer in the box against certain pitchers.

"I'm making adjustments in batting practice and in the cage," Ramirez said through translator and White Sox coach Lino Diaz. "Slowly I'm taking it into the field, little by little."

Viciedo is hitting .174 (4-for-23) with two home runs entering Wednesday's game in Washington, but he struck out Tuesday on a fastball out of the zone after getting ahead of Gio Gonzalez, 3-0, with runners on the corners and two out.

The White Sox talked to Viciedo once again Wednesday about the benefits of the leg kick.

"Sometimes, when he misses, they are because of the timing," said Manto of Viciedo. "It's not because of talent. Once he sees that ... we've been down this road with him before."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.